Walking in European cities: a gender perception perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many changes in daily mobility, such as a general increase in the use of active means. However, the shift towards a different mode of transport is always influenced by various aspects that can affect users in distinct ways. Gender is among those factors, and research on this aspect has started to spread in the last decade. In this context, this work investigates how gender could impact the perception of pedestrians in Europe. A survey was designed and spread in Winter 2020- Summer 2021, collecting more than 4000 responses in 10 European regions/countries analysed - France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Baltic States, German, Scandinavia, Romania and the United Kingdom. General statistics on the mode chosen for the most frequent journey on a weekday show different trends, with a more significant number of female walkers than males. Gender equity while escorting dependents is found in more than half of the samples, especially in northern European countries. Further analyses are based on the respondents' replies to satisfaction statements regarding walking conditions. Comparing the results from the 10 samples, the satisfaction levels of pedestrians for most samples are lower for women, except for the Romanian sample, where men are less satisfied. Results indicate a difference in the perception of security between men and women in most samples. From the pedestrians' group, women feel more insecure and less satisfied with the provided infrastructure while walking on the streets than men; thus, the proposal of adequate ameliorations is essential to push people to choose this sustainable and equitable active mode for their daily mobility

A Preliminary Analysis on Gender Aspects in Transport Systems and Mobility Services: Presentation of a Survey Design

As sustainability is becoming a common practice in planning transport systems and mobility services, the designation and management of gender issues are of paramount importance. TInnGO is a European Project that has developed a network of 10 national Hubs to build the capacity to generate and apply evidence on gender equality and transport issues at the European level. This paper presents the project activities by introducing a relevant framework and exploring user mobility experiences based on gender to identify diversified needs and requirements. This process relies on the combination of a review of current gender-oriented experiences and practices in mobility with focus group activities conducted in four different EU cities. The insights obtained from these activities supported the design of a survey to collect information on socioeconomic, personal, and operational aspects to serve a gender-oriented transport analysis for all the Hubs. These preliminary analyses identified the main issues related to the female mobility experience, namely safety, security, accessibility, and transport reliability. Future research on the data collected through the survey would help operators in successfully improving their mobility offer to women

The Mediterranean case

The Short Sea Shipping (SSS) market is strongly diversified, due to the variety of cargoes, vessel types and capacity, and segmented due to the existence of many national and peripheral submarkets. It is observed that prices differ considerably among transport services of similar distance routes and/or similar demand characteristics. The aim of this study is to identify factors influencing SSS operators pricing policies for both the sea and the inland part of intermodal chains, in an integrated framework. The analysis is based on the comparison of parameters influencing the cost structure and the pricing policy. The analysis of data collected through telephone and face-to-face interviews reveals that fuel, port cost, and market drivers with fuel cost being the most important elements influencing the variation in both the cost function and the pricing policy. Cost variations are also influenced by the cost of hinterland transport and the size of shipments, while pricing policy varies according to destination and type of goods transported. These findings contribute in understanding the SSS market and its operation. However, due to the complexity of self-organised systems, validating the presented cost and pricing structures remains a challenge

What role for minibus services in urban areas, in a European market segmentation approach

In many European cities public transport, particularly busses, are unattractive and underused, due to the lack of direct connections, the need of transfers and the loss of time and comfort. Hence, this study aims at developing the business concept of an alternative or complementary type of public transport which enables a quicker and more flexible service and enhances patronage by using comfortable minibuses. First the business environment and the integration of a new service in the urban mobility market are identified. Then, in order to approve this concept, a concrete case study concerning a minibus service between the cities of Lisbon and Oeiras (Portugal) is applied. A mobility survey and focus group interviews are analysed to identify the current supply and demand. Based on a discrete choice model, a factor analysis and further descriptive statistics, the main target group of previous car users with needs of a quick and flexible transport service, particularly during peak hour, is confirmed. Besides, some user groups with a lower value of time and interests in a comfortable and easy accessible minibus service out of peak hour can be identified. Hence, the proposed service combines both types of needs, incorporating short routes, few stops and high frequencies during peak hour and an adapted, flexible service with significantly lower frequencies and the possibilities of additional on-demand service out of peak hour and on the weekends. At the end the potential risks for the operator companies are identified and the technical and operational feasibility of the service are critically discussed in the future urban mobility systems in Europe. However, before the real implementation of the proposed minibus concept, a deeper marketing research should be carried out, examining the expected demand for these types of services and the establishment of partnerships